Air frying is a great way to cook frozen convenience foods (like fries, or onion rings). The hot air is great for getting the outside to crisp up quickly – stopping the sogginess that you sometimes get with oven baking – with no need to drown them in a vat of oil.
Getting frozen foods crispy can be a challenge if you don’t want to deep fry. The slow cooking times and static air of a conventional oven can lead to soft, soggy food or it’ll be crisp on the outside but dry on the inside. You also need to spend time flipping to get it to cook evenly. Not such an issue for hash brown patties, but somewhat tedious for French fries.
Air frying dries the surface of the food as it cooks, avoiding the sogginess and creating a crispy texture that’s similar to deep-frying, but with far less oil. Also, if you have a basket style air fryer, a quick shake or two of the basket during cooking is all you need to cook fried evenly.
Use my air fryer calculator to convert the cooking times and temps for oven foods for the air fryer ( or check out my frozen foods air frying cheat sheet for a quick quide).
9 of the best frozen foods to air fry
1. French fries
Frozen french fries are a classic air fryer food, and for good reason. Air frying gives them a crispy exterior without the added oil of deep-frying, making them a healthier option.
They are also much easier to make than the oven-baked version since you don’t need to turn them all individually, a quick shake of the basket a couple of time during cooking will do the trick.
>> See method: Air Fryer Frozen French Fries
2. Chicken wings
Air frying frozen chicken wings is quick and easy. Air frying creates a crispy exterior while keeping the inside juicy and tender. Plus, the hot air circulates around the wings, ensuring that they cook evenly.
>> Get the recipe: Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings
3. Onion rings
Air frying frozen onion rings can create a crispy and crunchy snack that’s perfect for sharing. Plus, the hot air ensures that the onions cook evenly without getting too greasy.
4. Frozen chicken nuggets
Air fried frozen chicken nuggets are the savior of busy parents everywhere. Throw in a few frozen fries and you can have the kids’ dinner on the table in under 20 minutes.
>> See method: Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Nuggets
5. Fish sticks
Air frying frozen fish sticks is the best way to cook them, since the hot air gets the coating perfectly crispy, without needing to overcook them (like the oven-baked version). Again you can throw in some french fries to cook with them for a quick and tasty meal.
>> See method: Air Fryer Fish Sticks (frozen)
6. Frozen vegetables
Air frying frozen vegetables is a quick and easy way to create a delicious and healthy side dish. The hot air helps to cook the vegetables quickly and evenly and bring out their flavor for a healthy side dish that everyone will enjoy.
7. Corn dogs
Frozen corn dogs are great cooked in the air fryer, perfect for when you need a quick snack or meal. Air frying gets the batter really crispy, while the quick cooking time means the hot dog inside stays juicy and flavorful.
8. Tater tots
Air frying frozen tater tots is a great option for creating a crispy side dish that’s the perfect match for just about any meal. The hot air cooks them quickly, ensuring that they crisp up nicely on the outside, but do not dry out.
>> See method: Air Fryer Tater Tots
9. Frozen shrimp
Cooking frozen shrimp in the air fryer is a quick and easy way to create a delicious and healthy meal. The hot air cooks them quickly, ensuring that they’re crispy on the outside and remain juicy and tender on the inside.
10. Frozen spring rolls
Air fried frozen spring rolls are great as a crispy and flavorful appetizer or snack. Air frying ensures that the rolls cook evenly and end up golden-brown and crispy all over.
>> See method: Air Fryer Frozen Egg Rolls (or Frozen Spring Rolls)
11. Frozen pizza
Air frying frozen pizza is a quick and easy way to create a crispy and delicious meal. The hot air ensures that the crust becomes crispy and the cheese melts perfectly, creating a delicious pizza in just a few minutes.
>> See method: Air Fryer Frozen Pizza
12. Hash brown patties
Air frying frozen hash browns can create a crispy and delicious breakfast side dish. The hot air ensures that the patties become golden-brown and crispy on the outside while staying soft and tender on the inside. Plus, air frying hash browns is a healthier alternative to pan-frying, as it uses less oil.
>> See method: Air Fryer Frozen Hash Brown Patties
13. Pizza Rolls
Air frying frozen pizza rolls can create a crispy and delicious snack that’s perfect for game day or as a quick meal. The hot air cooks the pizza rolls evenly, so that they become perfectly crispy on the outside, while the filling inside becomes piping hot and gooey. You’ll never microwave them again!
>> See method: Air Fryer Pizza Rolls
14. Mozzarella sticks
Air frying frozen mozzarella sticks can create a crispy and gooey snack that’s perfect for dipping. Plus, the hot air ensures that the cheese melts evenly while the breading stays crispy.